The Library of Congress (in its own separate building for the first time) opened its doors. Construction on the joint had been going on for nigh on 20 years … an immense project. Up until that point – the collection had been housed in the Capitol Building, in the main reading room. I’m sure most of us know the story of how the Library of Congress came to be. In the war of 1812, the British invaded Washington and burned shit up. (I remember that funny moment a couple years ago when Tony Blair visited the Capitol Building – and somebody said, “And there is the fireplace where you burned up all our books” – or something like that – making it sound like it had happened yesterday – and Tony Blair, without missing a beat, said, “My apologies.”) There were 3,000 volumes in the library – all gone. So Jefferson – who was now Mr. Retired Philospher King on the mountaintop – sold his unbelievable book collection (the book collection that had him in perpetual debt up to his ears – there were almost 7,000 books in his own personal collection) to the United States government, to begin building up a national library again.
Of course, that original collection from Jefferson is now housed in the rare book room. Image of part of it here:
I am drooling.
Check this image out. Pretty amazing. That photograph is from 1888 – and it’s the excavation of the site where the Library of Congress would eventually stand.
Marvelous.
As a librarian’s daughter – such historical events have a very special resonance.
Now if they’d just stop losing the books.
The Library of Congress is one of my favorite buildings in D.C. – so gorgeous. Plus the round reading room and card catalogs!! How I miss card catalogs. Sigh.